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I've skimmed through here, and with 2 of my children who are ABs, and very different to each other, I don't think there is a simple answer. They are both intelligent, good looking, wonderful loving people, but still very different.But I can see how helpful it is to let it all hang out in this supportive forum, so go for it.

Since July, and the diet certainly makes me more functional. I just found two foods can really calm me down considerably, and need to eat more of it: Lamb and dark meat turkey. Sharon recommended this to me, and I would be messy emotionally without it.

If I spend a lot of time with any one person, their thoughts, feelings, and speech just rub off on me. If I don't see them for a few days, I am back to being myself. ABs are the chameleons, and I have separate lives (my work life, home life, family, and different sets of friends) and I don't like my worlds to collide. One group of people may think I'm quiet and reserved, while another will think I'm loud and talkative, and they won't believe they are talking about the same person.

I do a lot of jigsaw puzzles, and need to go outside a lot also. Being productive is a must for my mental health like organizing the closet or kitchen and fixing things that are broken. I too internalize stress and have a hard time calming down for days or weeks from a simple stressor.

I'm a very pleasant person and smile to strangers and all, but I tend to cut people off from my life that cause me too much stress. I just in my mind, decide, detach myself, and cut the ribbon. It must sound terrible to all of you but it really removes the stress! And not much else can. Once I cut the ribbon I never come back- it registers in my mind this person is unhealthy for you.

Another thought I had is about exercise. Running stresses me and watching endurance sports is stressful. I can do walking if I need to get someplace but no running or long workouts. Even looking at people working out in a gym stresses me out. When I started the BTD, I didn't exercise at all and still lost the weight. Any other AB's have any thoughts on exercise?

Exercise. I've been on the extreme ends of this. Before I had health issues, I exercised regularly. I'd walk, I'd run some, although that was always real hard for me. But I figured it was for everyone. Football, wrestling and baseball were sports I did growing up. Soccer too. I was a goalie in soccer.

After high school, I had times where I didn't exercise much outside of work, but work was physically strenuous. (Landscaping and then cabinet installing). I actually loved installing cabinets. It was fun to take a room and make it into something really nice. But it was hard work. They get heavy. At least the ones I worked with.

Then I got a desk job and I walked and did push ups and sit ups and everything. But that half hour every 3 days didn't lose me any weight. I just gained because I had a see - food diet at the time.

Then the gut issues came and fatigue and I don't exercise at all. However, I work at a daycare and carry kids around some and even on stairs. Nothing overly heavy but a bit. I don't have the energy at this point beyond my job to exercise. I will do some stretching exercises now and again. But right now I feel like I'm in recoop mode. Expending too much energy can be bad on me too. So I just take it easy. I went from the extreme. While I never was a triathlete, I was always very active. Now, I am very inactive. It's getting better though. I did a bunch of shopping with my wife today. 4 different stores. A lot more walking than I've done in a while. I think it's the Adrenal Supplements I'm on. Because it didn't seem to fatigue me. Tomorrow will tell. But yeah, I lost a good amount of weight without exercising. Around 10 lbs.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

Since July, and the diet certainly makes me more functional. I just found two foods can really calm me down considerably, and need to eat more of it: Lamb and dark meat turkey. Sharon recommended this to me, and I would be messy emotionally without it.

My Dad (AB- suspect non-sector) also liked lamb & dark meat of turkey as do I. While everyone else fought over the white meat of the turkey, my Dad & I would grab for the drumsticks. Iím B- non-secretor, so maybe thatís the link. Beef also calms me down.

I am B- NON-Sec Explorer; my son is B+ SEC Nomad; my Mother was O+; and my Father was AB-SWAMI Thanksgiving present 2008Revised from Arlene B- NonSec to RedLilac on 3/31/06

Dark meat here. I don't mind the white meat, but the dark is what I go for, if I have my choice. I could eat that all day long. Well, not that much.

Lamb is still up in the air. I can't stomach the stuff bought from the store, but I can tolerate this grass fed, pasture raised one we just bought. And the hamburger I made a Meatloaf out of was technically Mutton. Which I thought was very good and didn't mess with me. But I don't know if it makes me feel all great inside. I do like the way it tastes though. All of it. I like any kind of meat for that matter, flavor wise. At least all that I've had. Bear was a little sweet for meat but it was OK.

I don't like to generalize within blood type either, but I do seem to find some similarities. My mother in law and Step Dad are both O's. And if you say one thing, they have to argue with you. It's like their purpose in life is to fight. I think it's nearly impossible for them to agree with just about anything anyone says. And for them to ever say they're sorry about something, even if they're completely in the wrong, would be a miracle sent down from Heaven above, sent by the creator himself marked urgent. That's the only way I see that happening. I really don't like being around either one of them. I think the O's on this board may be a little more open minded, but some of the O's I know, I like to run from them. Although I do have an older friend who is an O. So that is not a complete picture either. But I think it may have a bit of a bearing. All that acidity and what not. Hehehehhehehe

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

Another thought I had is about exercise. Running stresses me and watching endurance sports is stressful. I can do walking if I need to get someplace but no running or long workouts. Even looking at people working out in a gym stresses me out. When I started the BTD, I didn't exercise at all and still lost the weight. Any other AB's have any thoughts on exercise?

Really?! Maybe because you're a Warrior and lean towards the A blood type with light exercise, and I'm an Explorer where type O's are also found. I can't lose weight without exercising. Even when I ate only diamonds for 6 months straight. Plus, I get so easily depressed without lots of exercise.

Really?! Maybe because you're a Warrior and lean towards the A blood type with light exercise, and I'm an Explorer where type O's are also found. I can't lose weight without exercising. Even when I ate only diamonds for 6 months straight. Plus, I get so easily depressed without lots of exercise.

When I was younger (teens and 20's) I used to take ballet, tap and jazz classes all the time. I never thought of it as exercise because I enjoyed it but it was very athletic movement. Now, the only real exercise I get is walking my dog and walking to work and farmer's markets in Manhattan. I guess I get my exercise just from doing chores and lugging heavy bags of groceries all around the city. So I guess I do get some exercise.

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

The only exercise I ever do is some walking and the yard and housework I do... This includes various repairs, etc. on the house and cars... So there is quite a bit of wiggling that most people don't consider exercise, but I move all day... The only time I don't is when I simply don't feel good enough to be active.

fine so far no more guiltyness for me either ;) jjjjaaahhhuuiii toughy exercise makes me dizzy and foggy... ....and I'll feel terribly drained.... I do need my calmness and being relaxed in body mind and soul ;) .....

btw...I don't think that AB's have problems with responsabilities...in contrary, we allow our stubborness to take those of the others, instead of giving them back...even worse ;) ... ahem yesss :-/....once a good teacher tought me not to interact coz it isn't up to me to take theirs ;) ...so far I often wasn't aware that it might be that I am taking away a sort of learning effect... so far I often tried to protect friends or clients...instead of releasing them into their own duties..... .....the typical *yiddishe mumme-effect* you see it holds on and on...since decades and it is very hard to cut down this form of *gordnic knot*..... but I've a good trainer.....

I think Warriors generally need less exercise than Explorers. As an Explorer I also need lots of protein to feel at my best. I get very blue in the face without eating red meat.

With responsibility, I can't handle too much! I get overwhelmed easily. I can't plan days or weeks into advance. I sometimes offer to help someone else, but it has to be on my terms and on a whenever-you-get-the-chance basis.

Has anyone been called a fanatic before? It seems sometimes I study and act on things in an extreme degree. My sister says I'm that way about my diet. In some ways it's good, but in some ways it's bad. Some people don't understand it. And I think there is a fine line between doing all we can do, and downright letting my passion control me at the cost of maybe hurting others around me. But then there is the thing that I really don't like how people complain about things, when they're really not trying all that hard to do the things they could to change it. You know? I think to myself, I should be doing this, I can be doing this. I want to do this. Keep moving in the direction I want to go. But then there are people that are just like, whatever, I can't do anything about it. That just don't sit well with me. Seems like there is always some way to improve, or tweak. I mean how can we be done learning when there is so much to learn?

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

I've been called a fanatic and my AB father, too. If we are interested in something, we will study it and become immersed in it. I need to find every possible angle on a topic I'm interested in. The Warrior in me probably makes me even more this way.

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

good stress antidotes for me are: walking or yoga/stretching, and creative activities, but the most important (and most difficult to do) is knowing when to stop thinking. by that, i mean knowing when i'm at a point when there is nothing i can do to change whatever is stressing me out. e.g. when i need to wait for someone else to do something or something else to happen. basically, knowing that there is no point dwelling on something that i have no control over.

activities that "turn me on" usually involve creating or building. i enjoy writing and playing music, cooking, photography, graphic design, video/audio production and editing. legos were my favorite toys growing up. past jobs that i enjoyed were picture framing and working in record stores. i also think i'm turned on by movement and nature. i play soccer and enjoy running (even though i don't do it as often as i tell myself i'm gonna). i like bike riding, roller skating, skate boarding, and snow boarding. i don't do these things regularly, but enjoy them when i do. i find a sense of freedom when i'm in motion. i also used to ride a motorcycle, but that was stolen and i never got another one. i like being in nature: camping, hiking, beach etc. i enjoy challenges and solving puzzles, but i don't care for competitiveness. my enjoyment of sports usually stops once the level of competition gets too high. i like touching things. textures are always fascinating and interesting to me. i enjoy foods that i can eat with my hands. i like to feel the different food textures on my tongue as much as i enjoy the flavors. i remember really enjoying my ceramics class back in high school. i think i liked putting my hands in the clay.

i have friends but am very reclusive and independent. most of my closest friends have told me that they thought i hated them at first. in friendships and relationships, i tend to give too much of myself. by that, i mean i have a habit of giving more than i can afford and end up paying a price in some form or another. i'm slowly learning to be more selfish. i spent all of my life wanting to be in a tight circle of friends and to have a "soul-mate" that i would spend the rest of my life with, through thick and thin, but i never felt like i belonged. i could never figure out where i fit in amongst groups of people. i finally realized that my "circle of friends" is actually a bunch of different circles of friends. i no longer feel the need to be part of some sort of family unit or clan.

if you're still reading, i can pretty much relate to everything that has been written here and also in the books and websites about type ab. especially the "chameleonlike quality" and "enigma". also, "tendency to feel angry and alienated from others", and "the conflicting desire to be independent and social". i would describe myself as being intuitive, sensitive, serious with a conflicting light-heartedness, creative, stubborn, determined, shy, loyal, passionate, reliable, patient, spiritual, and i definitely have an addictive personality. achieving balance is my biggest challenge. i usually feel like a walking conflict.

Hey, it's my long lost brother, or sister, or whatever you are. But I can totally relate to everything you just said. It is bizarre.

The poster formerly known as "ABNOWAY"

"Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." - Phillipians 4:8

the same for me akisake....as ABN says...bizarre.... but since I got older, no more feelings likewise being a walkin conflict ;) that stopped when I realized to become more aware to a true observer instead of jumping into any kinds of feelings... most of the time those feelings were only too much of this and that...instead of adapted to... :-/ nonnielike.. I am a very intense personality... :-/ ....btw the explanation of a fugue isn't that far away as P.D. described us the explorers ;) ...

the biggest problem is, might be...was... not to stay fixed in a dogmatic comportement...for me....this is called *tolerance* I guess.... ;) but when teaching BTD... what can I be then....enthusiastic ....I nearly can't stop onece into the material things... .....but often people got me wrong and can't believe that this form of diet is that helpful and cry after me being a *dogmatic character* which isn't no more true coz I've learned to do the differences.... ok..ok... might be :P coz I don't see myselve objectively...